The Australian government has firmly rejected Russian threats regarding its willingness to consider contributing to a peacekeeping effort in Ukraine. Amid discussions of a potential coalition with France and the UK to facilitate peace in the region, Russia’s embassy in Canberra warned of “grave consequences” should Australia send troops to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Australia’s stance, asserting that the country has a longstanding tradition of contributing to international peacekeeping missions. The spokesperson emphasised that while no official peacekeeping mission currently exists in Ukraine due to ongoing hostilities, Australia would consider any legitimate request for support regarding such a mission. The government’s position is clear: it will not be coerced into abandoning its commitment to assisting Ukraine.
Wong’s representative also conveyed a strong message to Russia, urging it to cease its unlawful invasion and stressing that Australia will not be intimidated while working towards achieving a just peace for the Ukrainian people. Russia’s embassy further condemned any deployment of foreign military personnel to Ukraine, labelling it unacceptable and claiming it would undermine peace efforts. They asserted that Australia’s involvement in a Western military presence would have serious repercussions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently noted that no official request for assistance has been made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite this, if such a request arises, Australia remains open to consideration. Albanese underscored the importance of Australia’s alliance with the US while stating that the nation’s foreign policy decisions are made independently, centred on its national interests, which align with supporting Ukraine.
The concept of a coalition for peacekeeping in Ukraine was initially proposed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who suggested the deployment of 30,000 peacekeepers from Europe to help deter further Russian aggression. In light of these developments, Australia stands resolute in its commitment to international peace efforts despite Russian opposition.